Blogging Etiquette

Whenever I write a post I put a little bit of myself out there. What I write is what I feel. Although I keep it light I sometimes can’t help addressing things that deeply move, anger or scare me. I will put my heart out there, say it the way I feel it, the way I see it.

When I do I’m aware that my opinion might not be shared by everyone. And that’s totally fine. After all blogging is about exchange of opinions, information and experiences. Which brings me to one of the things I think is important: Etiquette.

See, when I visit a blog I imagine I visit your home. So when I visit I feel and behave like a guest. I might not be on the same page as you are but I still like to read what you have to say and in doing so try to see where your opinion is coming from. I might ask you a question in the comments to your post.

By reading your post and leaving a question in the comments I might learn something new, or see clearer where you are coming from. This might change my opinion or not but it will for sure give me a better understanding. I might read through the comments of others and see what your answers to their questions or comments were. Again, this might give me a better understanding where you are coming from. And if I can’t understand you point of view at all or if I find it too extreme, I will simply disappear and leave you alone.

As I said I feel like visiting your place when I visit your blog. It is your place. A place you share your views, your sorrows, your fears, your feelings, your opinions. Where you mix and mingle with the people who might think like you. Who like what you write about, the way you tick maybe. Just like people you would have over in your home.

Apparently not everyone shows the same amount of respect, or etiquette.

So far I’ve been lucky enough to not have experienced trolls on my blog. Almost all exchanges I had so far with followers, readers or others just coming over to have a quick read were very interesting, well mannered and peaceful conversations. It’s the way I like to keep it.

I have a rule here on A Momma’s View. A rule that I have in my house too. If you visit me, I’d like to make you feel welcomed. It’s just the way I am. I want you to feel comfortable being here and sticking around. If you visit you play nicely. It’s easy, you know. I like a good discussion, even if we never find common ground. My rule is that we are kind with each other and that we play fair. We play nice. We inspire and motivate, support and if we do not agree we accept the other opinion and stay respectful. Sometimes agreeing on disagreeing is good enough and you can still keep up a nice conversation and maybe everyone takes something away from it.

If you still don’t like what I have to say, what comments are left by my visitors, just leave. Nobody forces you to stick around or to keep following. It’s entirely up to you. If you don’t like what I have to say to the point where you get aggressive instead of just leaving you definitely must have a problem. Or too much time on your hand. Don’t torture yourself…

What I will not accept is rude or aggressive behavior, especially not against my guests or in the blogger world all the people who take their time to comment on my posts. Just like in real life it’s one thing if you jump at me but it’s a different story if you jump at my guests. I’m happy to take some heat as a host but I will not let you harass my visitors. If you visit you play nicely. It’s easy, you know. If you don’t like it, leave. Nobody forces you to stick around or to keep coming back. It’s entirely up to you. If you don’t like what I have to say to the point where you get aggressive instead of just leaving you have a problem. Or too much time on your hand. Because honestly, who sticks around without liking it?

It’s what blogging etiquette is all about for me. Live and let live. If you can’t live with the opinion of other bloggers to the point where it makes you aggressive simply don’t visit anymore. Let them do their thing. Do your thing on your blog.